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Ricky Zililo
CASTLE Lager Premier Soccer League log leaders Chicken Inn might be forced to play their home game against FC Platinum at Maglas Stadium in Zvishavane if the Bulawayo City Council strike continues.
Chicken Inn uses Luveve Stadium as their home ground and they were scheduled to clash with FC Platinum at the venue on Saturday.
Tawengwa Hara, the Chicken Inn secretary, said his club failed to train at Luveve Stadium yesterday due to the strike by council workers.
He said they were in the process of communicating to the league about their intended move to Zvishavane for the             match against FC Platinum in the event the  strike spills into the weekend.
“If the strike persists we are going to ask the league to move our game to Zvishavane’s Maglas Stadium.
“We failed to train at Luveve Stadium  today because of the strike. We registered Luveve and Barbourfields Stadium as     our home venues but since there is a strike  we might not be able to use either of the stadia.
“We do not want to bring the game into disrepute so what we are going to do is advise the league tomorrow about our intended move.
“We want to play this match and if Maglas is available on Saturday there is no reason for the match to be postponed because we have volunteered to go to Zvishavane,” he said.
Hara said had Phelandaba Stadium in Gwanda been inspected and approved for league matches, they could have taken their game there.
A Premiership board member in charge of competitions, Hara said he was confident of securing Maglas Stadium from Shabanie Mine who own the facility.
With the fierce rivalry between FC Platinum and Shabanie Mine FC, Chicken Inn might be targeting at capitalising on the 12th man.
Shabanie Mine supporters are expected to rally behind their bitter rivals’ opponents. 
The last time Chicken Inn played at Maglas Stadium they beat Shabanie Mine 2-0 and they are probably of the view that the venue is a good hunting ground for them.

Chicken Inn top the log with 10 points from four outings while their opponents are five points adrift and sit on position eight having played three matches.

The Bulawayo club will be hoping to register their first victory over FC Platinum. Last year both matches were 1-1 draws.

Both clubs will be without their head coaches who are attending a Caf B Licence Coaching Course in Harare at the weekend.

In the absence of Adam Ndlovu, Chicken Inn will be under the guidance of national Under-20 assistant coach Mandla Mpofu with Tendai Chikuni standing in for Rahman Gumbo at FC Platinum.

The Castle Lager Premier Soccer  League chief executive officer Kennedy Ndebele said he would only comment after speaking to BCC officials responsible for stadia.

“I haven’t received communication from Chicken Inn with regards to the possible change of venue but since it is said that there is a strike at the BCC, I will have to talk to officials from the council and find out their position. Get hold of me tomorrow I will be in a clear picture,” said Ndebele.

The other two Bulawayo Premiership clubs — Highlanders and Quelaton will not be affected by the strike.

Bosso are inactive this weekend as their opponents Dynamos are involved in the Caf Champions League while Quelaton travel to Harare for a date with Harare City.
Fixtures
Saturday: Black Mambas v Monomotapa, Chicken Inn v FC Platinum, Motor Action v Blue Rangers, Harare City v Quelaton
Sunday: Gunners v Caps United, Shabanie Mine v Hardbody, Hwange v Buffaloes, Highlanders v Dynamos (postponed)